lotería
/loh-teh-REE-ah/
lottery
The most common meaning of lotería is a game of chance where prizes are won by drawing tickets.
lotería(noun)
lottery
?game of chance
raffle
?small scale drawing
,sweepstakes
?contest with prizes
📝 In Action
Compramos un billete de lotería para el sorteo de Navidad.
A1We bought a lottery ticket for the Christmas draw.
¿Qué harías si te tocase la lotería?
A2What would you do if you won the lottery?
La oficina de lotería está abierta hasta las ocho.
A1The lottery office is open until eight.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Since 'lotería' ends in -a, it is a feminine noun, so you use 'la' (the) and 'una' (a/an) before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Winning the Lottery
To say someone 'won the lottery,' the most natural Spanish phrasing is 'tocar la lotería' (literally 'to touch the lottery'), or sometimes 'ganar la lotería'.
Lotería can also refer to a situation governed entirely by pure chance or luck.
📝 In Action
Elegir un médico en esa clínica es una lotería, nunca sabes quién te tocará.
B1Choosing a doctor at that clinic is pure chance (a lottery); you never know who you will get.
Conseguir mesa en ese restaurante sin reserva es una lotería.
B2Getting a table at that restaurant without a reservation is a roll of the dice.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Figurative Sense
You will often hear this meaning used with the structure 'ser una lotería' (to be a lottery) when describing an unpredictable situation or outcome.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: lotería
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'lotería' in its figurative sense (meaning pure chance)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'lotería' un falso amigo con el inglés?
No, 'lotería' is a true cognate, meaning it looks and sounds very similar to the English word 'lottery' and has the exact same main meaning.
What is the most famous lottery in the Spanish-speaking world?
The most famous is 'El Gordo' (The Fat One), which is the Spanish Christmas Lottery. It is known for its massive prize pool and cultural significance.